Moon is up to his eyeballs in our Korea policy. No doubt about it.
from moonwatcher's research:
1998
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/192691.stmA South Korea company owned by the Unification Church, whose followers are known as the Moonies, says it's struck a deal with North Korea to build a luxury tourist resort for foreigners there.
The company, the Tongil group, says it's to set up a hotel and ski resort and expand development of a tourist zone on Mount Kumgang.
It's the second South Korean firm to make such an arrangement with North Korea, which is suffering a severe famine and is desperately short of foreign currency.
An earlier tourist deal was announced by Hyundai, which had been due to start tours last month until arguments over charges delayed the launch.
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feb 2000
http://www.rickross.com/reference/unif/Unif64.htmlIn another sign of easing tension, North Korea last weekend allowed two groups of foreign residents in South Korea to join a tour of the scenic Mount Kumgang across the border on the east coast. The first group included the BBC's correspondent in Seoul. There are plans for a cruise ship of Japanese tourists to visit at the end of this month. The Rev Moon hoped to be the first to open up Mount Kumgang but the Hyundai tycoon Chung Ju-yung clinched the deal first.
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nov 2000
http://home.hccnet.nl/r.van.hofslot/NwsNov5.htmlBut many of the businessmen seeking entry into North Korea, which is beginning to emerge from its isolationist shell, have motives other than just profit. The two biggest rivals, Mr. Moon's group and the giant Hyundai Group of South Korea, both say they are spurred by a patriotic desire to mend the rift that split North and South Korea 55 years ago.
"That's what makes our company different - the ideology," Mr. Park said. Hyundai Group won an early competition with Mr. Moon's company by offering North Korea nearly $1 billion for a scenic mountain tourist attraction that will take years to break even.
The company's officials say the investment was spurred by the sentiments of the Hyundai founder, Chung Ju Yung, 85, who was born in the North and wants to see Korean reunification. And, they add, payment for the Mount Kumgang tourist facility "is the price of admission" to other projects, including a planned industrial park and tours for visitors to Kaesong, near the North-South border.
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today
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3121609.stm A leading South Korean businessman has died in an apparent suicide after becoming embroiled in a scandal involving secret payments to the North Korean leadership.
Chung Mong-hun - chairman of Hyundai Asan - was found dead after falling from the 12th floor of company headquarters in central Seoul.
His body was found by his secretary at about 0600 (2100 GMT) - police said he appeared to have jumped some hours before.
Mr Chung was a leading member of South Korea's richest and most celebrated business family, one of the sons of the legendary tycoon Chung Ju-young, whose Hyundai group transformed the country into a major industrial power.
..He was indicted in June on false accounting charges in a scandal involving the transfer of $500m to the North Korean leadership.
An investigation found that a $100m was transferred on behalf of the South Korean Government to help secure a historic summit meeting between the two Koreas three years ago.
..
Former government officials have also been indicted, but not former President Kim Dae-jung who won a Nobel Peace Prize for his meeting with the North Korean ruler Kim Jong-il.
Hyundai-Asan said the money was paid to secure business licences in North Korea.
The company has pioneered economic contacts with the isolated Communist state, and runs the only tourist trips across the demilitarised zone into the North.
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